The Red Bull Air Force visited South Africa so they could jump from various points in the Drakensberg Mountains wearing wingsuits.
Drakensberg, South Africa – Jon DeVore, Mike Swanson and Miles Daisher were recently in South Africa to fly wingsuits in the Drakensberg. They planned to launch off from sites which had never been flown by wingsuit before.
“We love showing people really unique amazing locations around the world in a way they’ve never seen,” says Jon DeVore,
“A lot of people have seen images of the Drakensberg region but most have never seen it from a bird’s eye view,” Jon says.
The team included a South African wingsuit pilot, Julian Boulle and local mountain expert and guide, Gloei Cilliers. Their goal was to fly wingsuits off the Eastern Buttress, which is 3000m above sea level. The Red Bull Air Force confirmed that the Eastern Buttress features ‘a vertical rock wall before sloping down into a scree slope punctuated by dramatic stream-carved valleys’.
The weather wasn’t looking to great so their chance to make the jump got smaller and smaller with every passing minute.
“There are a lot of emotions that run through our minds when we’re faced with bad weather,” Jon says.
“After planning for months and travelling for over 27 hours the energy is high and everyone is excited that it’s finally happening.”
“Then reality sets in and you realise all this effort might have been for nothing and we’re just going to sit in the rain for a week and get skunked. It’s something you have to be ready for though. Whenever you’re planning anything in the mountains you better be ready to sit and wait!”
Thankfully, the team got their chance to make the jump and the results are pretty breathtaking.
“We could barely control ourselves in the helicopter. Everywhere we looked where amazing locations. All we can say is that we will definitely have to go back.” Jon concluded.
Take a look at the beautiful jump below.
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